BATHINDA: Ram Vilas Paswan, Janiata Dal leader, last week, strongly opposed the proposed substitute to the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) and demanded immediate release of all those held under the “draconian law.

Addressing a press conference here before proceeding to Gidderbaha to Campaign in support of the Akali Dal candidate, Paswan feared that the new Act would be more harsh and will become a permanent tool in the hands of the ruling party to repress its political opponents.

Paswan demanded setting up of a national level commission to identify the parties and officers who had misused TADA and spoiled the lives of innocent people. He said that during the last five years, around 88,000 people were detained under TADA and the police was able to file charge sheets against only one per cent of them, He alleged that TADA was misused in states where Congress was in power.

The Janata Dal leader said that on his intervention, the Andhra Pradesh government, where the Telugu Desam is in power, had on May 20 released all the 51 detainees under TADA. He. said that even the British government had never enacted draconian laws to rule in India and Congress has brought repressive laws after independence, He observed that the CRPC and IPC in their present form were adequate to deal with all types of criminals. He advocated to form a public opinion before bringing any amendment in Parliament.

Paswan said the Congress was bent ‘on “spoiling the natural leadership in every state and the Akalis in Punjab were the victims of this policy.” He said that strengthening the hands of the Akali Dal would be in the national interest, Coming to JK, he said that any election under Army dictatorship would be against the interests of Kashmiris. He sought to UN observer for the JK poll.

The Janata Dal leader said the Congress government at the Center had failed to protect the interests of minorities, He cited the examples of the demolition, of the Golden Temple, Babri Masjid and ChrareSharief recently.

He demanded a White Paper on the ChrareSharief incident and a reply by Home Minister of the allegations that Army had burnt the shrine.

 

Article extracted from this publication >>  June 2, 1995